Laser Masters North American Championships - Marc Jacobi wins 3 races

by New York Yacht Club on 21 Oct 2013 Marc Jacobi was one of the last people to officially enter the 137-boat 2013 Laser Masters North American Championships, registering for the regatta just hours before the first race. Once the racing started, however, he quickly jumped to the head of the class, winning three of the first six races.

The only sailor able to keep pace with Jacobi was Peter Shope. The two sailors went into the final race of the regatta separated by just one point, with Jacobi holding the slim lead, and the tiebreaker, should they finish with the same total score.

Shope struggled early in the final race while Jacobi (above, sail No. 194582) found himself comfortably ensconced in the top few boats. On the second beat, with nothing to lose—third overall was quite a ways back—Shope rolled the dice.

'I didn't pay attention to where [Shope] was [at the start], I just wanted to get off the line cleanly,' says Jacobi (below, right) of the final race. 'I didn't see him until halfway up the leg and he was back. On the second beat, he banged the left corner. I was in great position, second or third, really solid. But he had so much leverage on the left, I could not let him go. I took really bad shift, less wind, to get back over there and he ended up passing me at the top. It was terrifying. And we had a boat in between us.

'We rounded in a right shift. They all sailed by the lee to aim at the mark and I stayed in the pressure and sailed straight downwind, knowing that if we're in a right phase, the next phase is going to be left. I got off to the side of them, got that left phase first and extended on them and passed them on the run. It was nerve-racking.'

The sailing season in Newport, R.I., generally runs from Memorial Day through the middle of September. October is usually a mixed bag of weather: many days are beautiful, though storms and cold temperatures are not uncommon. One thing that is certain about running a regatta in October, however, is there's a lot less competition for the available space on Narragansett Bay. During the normal sailing season. a 137-boat Laser regatta would likely need to be sailed on Rhode Island Sound. For the 2013 Laser Masters North Americans, the lack of traffic on the bay allowed the race committee to set courses in the East Passage, within a short sail of Harbour Court. Of the 137 boats entered, 99 sailed in the Full Rig division, with 38 sailing in the Radial Division.

The courses were a touch shorter than normal and with the breeze coming off the land for most of the regatta, the shifts were frequent and hard to predict. This made it all the more difficult to be consistent. Only Jacobi and Shope were able to average less than 9 points per race in the 99-boat Full Rig fleet.

The Masters format groups sailors by age: Apprentice Master (35 to 44), Master (45 to 54), Grand Master (55 to 64), and Great Grand Master (65 and older). A handicapping formula allows for all the sailors to be ranked in one fleet in addition to being scored among their respective age categories.

2013 Laser Masters North American Championships
New York Yacht Club, Newport, RI
Oct. 18 to 20, 2013

Full Rig Fleet (99 boats)
Apprentice Master (points adjusted for full-fleet scoring)
1. Ray Davies, Toronto, CAN, 124 points
2. Brian Fisher, Middletown, R.I., 146
3. Roman Plutenko, Chicago, 219

Master
1. Marc Jacobi, Norwalk, Conn., 61
2. Peter Shope, Oakland, Calif., 64
3. Scott Ferguson, Jamestown, R.I., 132

Grand Master
1. Peter Vessella, Miami, Fla., 104
2. Andrew Pimental, Portsmouth, R.I., 104
3. Andy Roy, Peterborough, CAN, 105

Great Grand Master
1. David Frazier, Granby, Conn., 371
2. Tim Millhiser, Madison, Conn., 440
3. Amnon Gitelson, Amonk, N.Y., 542

Top Female: Lynne Shore, Newport, R.I. (154 points, 11th overall)
Radial Fleet (38 boats)
Apprentice Master (points adjusted for full-fleet scoring)
1. Eric Siegel, Hingham, Mass., 142
2. Kim Couranz, Annapolis, Md., 213
3. Dorian Halderman, Annapolis, Md., 217

Master
1. Stephen Cockerill, Hampshire, GBR, 48
2. Nigel Heath, Toronto, CAN, 74
3. Rudolph Ratsep, East Hampton, N.Y., 75

Grand Master
1. Tim Woodford, Nova Scotia, CAN, 96
2. Rob Koci, Toronto, CAN, 104
3. Richard Roberts, Toronto, CAN, 112

Great Grand Master
1. Peter Seidenberg, Portsmouth, R.I., 53
2. Lindsay Hewitt, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 71
3. David Hartman, Vero Beach, Fla., 149

Top Female: Margaret Bonds Podlich, Severna Park, Md. (150 points, 16th overall)

Sail   Boat   Skipper Yacht Club    1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10    Total W/ Masters Handicap Pos 194582      Marc Jacobi [Master]   CPYC     1   [100/OCS]   12   1   9   1   5   6   3   5     43   61   1   195425   Fluffy   Peter Shope [Master]   Treasure Island Sailing Center     4   3   2   10   5   3   [11]   1   11   7     46   64   2   204476   Bud   Peter Vessella [Grand Master]   Saint Francis YC     7   16   [34]   24   3   9   16   14   2   4     95   104   3   175126   Jibe Tech   Andrew Pimental [Grand Master]   Sail Newport     [34]   6   6   23/ZFP   16   11   4   17   4   8     95   104   4   196821      Andy Roy [Grand Master]   SSC     [27]   17   7   6   6   6   25   4   23   2     96   105   5   166906      Ray Davies [Apprentice Master]   Water Rats     18   12   4   [29]   14   2   20   3   12   12     97   124   6   180509      Scott Ferguson [Master]   Sail Newport     [48]   20   1   11   2   4   47   2   1   26     114   132   7   181855   Torch   Steven Kirkpatrick [Master]   NYYC / Sail Newport     [38]   11   18   2   28   16   10   13   5   20     123   141   8   199156      Brian Fisher [Apprentice Master]   NYYC     13   8   14   9   [37]   7   8   12   18   30     119   146   9   172957      Augie Diaz [Grand Master]   Coral Reef Yacht Club     22   5   26   15   17   5   17   20   [100/BFD]   14     141   150   10   194228      Lynne Shore [Master]   Plymouth Yacht Club     17   23   28   5   1   22   [32]   5   32   21     154   172   11   203957   Stella   John MacCausland [Master]   Cooper River     3   1   11   41   18   17   35   18   15   [42]     159   177   12   204391      Chris Raab [Grand Master]   NHYC     11   2   24   13   23   32   18   16   [100/DNF]   41     180   189   13   199146   Sbh   Benoît Meesemaecker [Master]   SBYC     [82]   27   27   12   19   10   15   10   53   1     174   192   14   196151      Roman Plutenko [Apprentice Master]   Chicago Yacht club     15   35   10   66/ZFP   13   14   [100/BFD]   7   26   6     192   219   15   194063   Hunger Pains   Glen Dickson [Apprentice Master]   Bay Head Yacht Club     9   22   15   [54]   38   8   24   27   33   19     195   222   16   199187   Christine Robin   Tracy Usher [Grand Master]   St Francis Yacht Club     16   7   48   31   24   12   26   44   9   [100/DNC]     217   226   17   92989      Paul Grimes [Master]   Conanicut YC     61   10   19   24/ZFP   [100/BFD]   20   3   21   8   50     216   234   18   187994      Ari Barshi [Master]   Laser Training Center     6   24   8   16   4   25   82   26   30   [100/BFD]     221   239   19   193065      Wolfgang Gerz [Grand Master]   SVW     [73]   25   36   46/ZFP   22   26   33   19   22   22     251   260   20   199978      Chris van Rossem [Apprentice Master]   Water Rat Sailing Club     20   15   23   35   32   [47]   34   24   38   13     234   261   21   204426      Mike Hecky [Master]   Riverton YC, Brant Beach YC     28   43   13   40/ZFP   20   [48]   45   34   6   16     245   263   22   200211   Gubba   Brett Morris [Apprentice Master]   PMYC     29/RDG   29/RDG   29/RDG   27   8   23   41   [56]   28   24     238   265   23   272727      Had Brick [Grand Master]   Island Heights Yacht Club     [84]   32   9   14   34   18   59   49   13   29     257   266   24   199572      Daniel Neri [Grand Master]   Sail Newport     [44]   40   31   7   21   30   36   23   35   36     259   268   25   175881      James Jacob [Grand Master]   SSA     2   33   16   52   [73]   21   7   35   50   49     265   274   26   170756   170756   Lars Hansen [Grand Master]   Wayzata Yacht Club     45   26   33   28   12   28   [58]   15   52   44     283   292   27   183861   Shogun   Britt Hughes [Master]   Housatonic Boat Club     12   9   [100/OCS]   63   30   42   9   25   37   55     282   300   28   198633      Patrick Andreasen [Master]   Eastern YC     [50]   21   47   40   10   27   28   38   43   31     285   303   29   182787   Crap Happened   Scott Pakenham [Apprentice Master]   Laser fleet 413     26   38   37   42/ZFP   44   31   27   [62]   29   11     285   312   30   193348      David Wells [Master]   Rothesay Yacht Club     70   4   39   23   15   19   22   8   [100/BFD]   100/DNS     300   318   31   198641      Ralph Kinder [Master]   Bristol YC     [76]   75   32   32   33   35   42   22   21   10     302   320   32   166000      Brian Harrison [Apprentice Master]   Fleet 490     24   46   38   39   27   13   [72]   39   19   54     299   326   33   191910   C-Vane   Ryan Minth [Master]   C-Vane     85   19   55/ZFP   8   7   59   13   11   54   [100/DNF]     311   329   34   187436   Benjimtom   Phil King [Master]   WFSC     [69]   30   45   43   31   24   63   31   27   23     317   335   35   173719      Doug Kaukeinen [Master]   The Rochester Canoe Club     40   52   50   36   [64]   39   48   48   10   3     326   344   36   194512   SEAFOOD   Ted Morgan [Master]   Severn Sailing Association     54   34   62   21   [78]   41   1   66   24   25     328   346   37   172010      mark sertl [Grand Master]   Conanicut/Rochester YC     80   41   22   47   11   38   [83]   30   64   9     342   351   38   199336   Blank   Douglas McKeige [Grand Master]   nyyc     35   42   56   37   41   50   [62]   28   16   39     344   353   39   173988   2 fast 4 you   Jorge Abreu [Grand Master]   Avela     43   54   42   [92/ZFP]   29   49   19   40   14   69     359   368   40   161100      David Frazier [Great Grand Master]   FBYC Essex CT     10   61   30   55   [76]   44   76   41   36   18     371   371   41   176023   Mighty Mouse   Lawrence McGrath [Master]   Riverside Yacht Club     55   39   21   58/ZFP   [69]   56   39   55   20   37     380   398   42   170393      david moffet [Master]   conanicut yacht club     52   49   20   18   66   43   44   47   44   [71]     383   401   43   169575      Mark Bear [Grand Master]   NBYC     89   37   57   19   40   15   21   32   [100/DNF]   100/DNC     410   419   44   158778   Laser   Hank Thorburn [Master]   MYA     42   78   [82]   56   42   52   30   33   41   27     401   419   45   190221      Bill Dickey [Master]   CPYC     [86]   14   60   60   51   64   2   37   66   60     414   432   46   199552      Donald Hahl [Grand Master]   Brant Beach YC     33   70   53   [71]   26   63   55   51   17   57     425   434   47   168591   OLDER BUDWEISER   Dan Lent [Apprentice Master]   Black Rock YC/ New York YC     21   44   43   50   57   89   53   9   [100/BFD]   43     409   436   48   194567   Tranquilo   Tim Millhiser [Great Grand Master]   Cedar Point YC     31   66   [71]   53   50   54   46   57   49   34     440   440   49   190474      David Hillmyer [Apprentice Master]   Sarasota Sailing Squadron     14   73   74   [100/ZFP]   55   51   79   50   7   17     420   447   50   204462      Patrick Wachholz [Apprentice Master]   Barrie Yacht Club     78   50   5   67   67   46   61   [79]   31   40     445   472   51   177364   177364   Daniel Fien [Grand Master]   Rochester Canoe Club     64   60   25   62/ZFP   43   45   14   53   100/BFD-DNE   [100/BFD]     466   475   52   204428   JulieD   Dennis Russom [Grand Master]   Greater Wildwood YC     57   47   [83]   25   49   80   77   45   34   52     466   475   53   193281      Mike Matan [Master]   RYA     25   18   3   57   25   36   [100/DNF]   100/DNC   100/DNC   100/DNC     464   482   54   199937      Len Guenther [Master]   Fishing Bay YC     5   [80]   73   66   35   33   69   70   56   63     470   488   55   200405   LaFawnduh   Michael Parramore [Master]   Severn Sailing Association     36   84   17   70   [87]   75   68   52   55   15     472   490   56   167367   Rooting for Bruce K   James Porter [Apprentice Master]   IYAC     30   63   75   34   68   55   [85]   58   59   28     470   497   57   169531      Carter Skemp [Apprentice Master]   none     8   76   76   61   [80]   60   49   64   48   38     480   507   58   192032      Wayne Colahan [Grand Master]   Eastern Yacht Club     63   56   72   58   58   [79]   74   59   51   35     526   535   59   177176      Derek Bottles [Apprentice Master]   Seattle Yacht Club     46   [100/DNC]   44   68/ZFP   48   57   38   46   100/BFD   61     508   535   60   198710   Laser   Darren Cooke [Master]   Fort Walton Beach Yacht Club     81   85   69   [100/ZFP]   62   37   37   36   60   51     518   536   61   193364      amnon gitelson [Great Grand Master]   cpyc     60   [77]   61   74   71   67   57   42   45   65     542   542   62   185957      Steve Phillips [Master]   S. Muskoka Sailing Club     47   28   [85]   73   79   78   75   75   25   45     525   543   63   185839   Wayward Sausage   Tom Whitmore [Master]   Royal Swedish/Sail Newport     19   36   52   [100/ZFP]   75   73   31   43   100/DNF   100/DNC     529   547   64   165105      Scott Leppert [Apprentice Master]   FBYC     49   59   [100/OCS]   59   60   61   100/BFD   29   47   58     522   549   65   50005   Exercise Bike   Henry Amthor [Master]   Hampton YC     62   57   58   49   45   40   29   [100/DNC]   100/DNC   100/DNC     540   558   66   193322      Harumitsu Yamamoto [Master]   CLSA     71   62   41   17   81   70   12   [100/DNC]   100/DNC   100/DNC     554   572   67   185786   cool jerk   robert bryant [Great Grand Master]   rochester yacht club     [83]   68   79   44   54   72   81   54   67   56     575   575   68   191909      David Dunbar [Master]   Pensacola Beach Yacht Club     58   64   49   33   82   65   43   63   [100/DNF]   100/DNC     557   575   69   170776      Gary Orkney [Grand Master]   Mascoma Sailing Club     32   58   40   71/ZFP   88   34   64   [100/DNC]   100/DNC   100/DNC     587   596   70   156631      Eric Johnson [Grand Master]   Severn Sailing Association     75   92   66   91   [94]   66   6   72   46   75     589   598   71   182761   Bar Code   Ben duPont [Master]   New York Yacht Club     65   51   67   50/ZFP   36   68   56   [100/DNC]   100/DNC   100/DNC     593   611   72   193965      Jim Knab [Grand Master]   Cooper River     79   69   87   64   77   92   40   [100/DNS]   40   59     607   616   73   173684      James Gardner [Master]   Niantic Bay Yacht Club     [100/DNC]   100/DNC   100/DNC   79   39   58   51   68   39   67     601   619   74   197695      Atle Lohrmann [Grand Master]   Courageous     [91]   82   70   83   74   77   54   61   42   73     616   625   75   199804      Jeff Beckwith [Master]   CPYC     53   88   46   96   72   53   [100/DNF]   67   61   72     608   626   76   180529      George Lewis [Master]   Corsica River Yacht Club     77   79   68   75   84   [90]   67   60   57   53     620   638   77   204777      David Trinder [Grand Master]   Seawanhaka YC, NY     66   67   77   [98/ZFP]   86   62   60   65   100/BFD-DNE   47     630   639   78   160165   Ivorybilled   Matthew Largess [Grand Master]   Laser Fleet 413     41   83   51   85/ZFP   52   86   87   [100/DNS]   72   74     631   640   79   133827      Eric Aker [Grand Master]   Fleet 413     59   55   81   62   46   76   52   [100/DNC]   100/DNC   100/DNC     631   640   80   181220      John Weiss [Grand Master]   White Bear Yacht Club     90   81   89   [95]   70   87   23   69   63   64     636   645   81   164368   candy store   Nathaniel Cook [Apprentice Master]   LSYC     68   45   [91]   86   59   74   80   76   65   68     621   648   82   194508      Kevin Cowley [Master]   PRSA     51   [93]   59   87   91   91   84   78   69   33     643   661   83   132891      Tim McMahon [Grand Master]   Beaver Lake Sailing Club     37   91   [93]   92   92   82   88   73   68   32     655   664   84   200198   Australia III   Brett Slykerman [Apprentice Master]   Brantford     39   86   90   [93]   90   83   66   81   62   48     645   672   85   186599   Laser   Timothy Desmond [Apprentice Master]   NESS     67   71   80   84   53   29   65   [100/DNC]   100/DNC   100/DNC     649   676   86   199560      Frank Seckler [Master]   Narrasketuck YC     23   53   54   68   85   84   [100/DNS]   100/DNC   100/DNC   100/DNC     667   685   87   167158      Eric Petersen [Apprentice Master]   PRSA     [100/DNC]   48   55   69   47   69   70   100/DNC   100/DNC   100/DNC     658   685   88   178857   Second Life   Adam Glass [Grand Master]   Severn Sailng Association     93   74   84   [94]   83   88   73   71   58   66     690   699   89   7427      Frederic (Tex) Poor [Great Grand Master]   Denver Sailing Association     56   94   88   89   [96]   85   89   77   70   62     710   710   90   192085   Bouncing Sheep   Jeff Dejean [Master]   Ashbridges Bay Yacht Club     88   [100/DNS]   78   76   89   81   71   74   100/BFD   46     703   721   91   204824      Matt Doherty [Master]   n/a     87   72   65   [100/ZFP]   65   71   50   100/DNC   100/DNC   100/DNC     710   728   92   204774      Mike Doell [Master]   Water Rats Sailing Club     94/ZFP   13   63   [100/ZFP]   56   100/DNC   100/DNC   100/DNC   100/DNC   100/DNC     726   744   93   149880      STEPHEN POLLAK [Grand Master]   Piscataqua Sailing Association     92   65   [100/DNC]   45   63   100/DNF   100/DNC   100/DNC   100/DNC   100/DNC     765   774   94   175918      Frank Hennessy [Grand Master]   Fleet 413     96   90   92   [97]   95   93   78   80   71   70     765   774   95   157812      Derek Stow [Great Grand Master]   Fleet 413     72   87   [100/DNF]   77   61   100/DNF   100/DNC   100/DNC   100/DNC   100/DNC     797   797   96   201321      Jerry Callahan [Grand Master]   Carolina Yacht Club     95   31   64   98   [100/DNF]   100/DNC   100/DNC   100/DNC   100/DNC   100/DNC     788   797   97   199177      Lowell Thomas [Master]   Conanicut     94   89   86   88   93   [100/DNC]   86   100/DNC   100/DNC   100/DNC     836   854   98   203616   tim marshall   tim marshall [Master]   tim marshall     [100/DNC]   100/DNC   100/DNC   100/DNC   100/DNC   100/DNC   100/DNC   100/DNC   100/DNC   100/DNC     900   918   99